220 Bryant Street

James Theodore Moses

James Theodore Moses was an attorney who served as assistant city attorney and assistant city judge. He was the son of Ferren G. and Nellie (Dennis) Moses.

Ferren G. Moses, his father, had been superintendent of mails for twenty years and was formerly connected with the engineering branch of the department of highways and canals. He was closely associated with the development of the Erie Canal and the construction of bridges here in the Tonawandas and on the Buffalo waterfront. Nellie Moses had been born in Mt. Morris in 1872, the daughter of James and Mary (Convey) Dennis, who were natives of Ireland.

The Moses family home was at 220 Bryant Street.

J. Theodore Moses, as he was commonly known locally, graduated from North Tonawanda High School in 1916, studying arts and law at the University of Buffalo where he received his degree in 1920.

While attending the university, he belonged to the naval reserve corps, and was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity.

Having completed his legal education, he successfully passed his bar examinations and was admitted in New York State in 1921. He associated in practice with Frank J. Maldiner, with whom he remained until June, 1923, when he started his own practice, specializing in corporation and estate litigation.

In 1924 Moses was appointed assistant city attorney, and in 1929 he was appointed assistant city judge. He was reappointed to the latter position in 1930, but tendered his resignation in February of that year.

He was a Roman Catholic, and in 1924 organized the Knights of Columbus Council No. 2535. At the age of 25, he was elected grand knight of the new council, holding that office for three successive years, the youngest grand knight in the United States at that time!

In April, 1927, he was elected exalted ruler of the local lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and in 1928 and 1929 he was district deputy of New York West. In this position, he was the youngest district deputy in the country. He was a Republican.

From 1959 through 1973, descendents of James Theodore Moses owned 226 Niagara Street, now the home of the Brick family. Daniel Evans Brick, a prominent local attorney, is also a descendent of a family with local history as attorneys and judges.

This was J. Theodore Moses' home.